Lock



,May 16, 1939.

H. E. KNOLL LOCK Filed Dec. 27, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1939- 11. 5. KNOLL 2,158,983

LOCK 7 Filed Dec. 27, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 125E555! lmmll-nnflllmm m||||| m|i Patented May 16, 1939 i i1 UNIT D STATES, PATENT oFFIcE LOCK Harry EQKnoll, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The D yton Manufacturing Comp y, Day n, O acorporatlon of 01110 Application December 27, 1937, Serial No. 181,796

17 Claims. (Cl. 292-174) This invention pertains to door locks of the means for adjusting the keeper relative to the biased latch bolt type, and more particularly latch to maintain most efiecti-ve operating relato an emergency or panic-proof lock suitable for tion. a swinging railway car doors, stateroom doors on A further object of the invention is to proboats, doors of public buildings, and-analogous vide a push-pull type lock operator mechanism .5 installations, although not limited thereto, but which will be of compact form and pleasing when of proper size and design applicable to resiappearance. dence doors. -A further obg'ect of the invention is to pro- The lock mechanism; forming the subject matvide a door lock having the advantageous structer hereof embodies a push-pull operator means tural features and meritorious characteristics 10 whereby the latch bolt is disengaged-by either herein mentioned. pulling strain upon the operating handle in the With the above primary and other incidental direction in which the door opens or by pushobjects in view, as will more fully appear in the ing efiort thereon from the opposite side of the specification, the invention consists of the fea- 1-5; door. 1 I

Lock mechanism suitable for car door pu-rthereof, and the mode of operation or their poses and the like are necessarily of quite sturdy equivalents as hereinafter described and set construction, embodying heavy parts and emforth in the claims. ploying .a relativelyv strong spring. of Referring to the accompanying drawings ordinary rotary knob type, such locks necessi wherein is shown the preferred, but obviously not 20 tate considerable operating effort to unlatch necessarily, the only form of embodiment of the the door,-es.pecially when operated by women or invention, children. Lever type operators enable the ex- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a ertion =of excessive force, many times resulting swinging door showing the present lock installed in disastrous efiect pon the lock mechanism. thereon as viewed from the inside or that to 25 Moreover, such rotary knob and lever type .opwhich the doors swings, and showing the pull operator devices are .difiicult and slow :of operacrating element. t n in emergencies. Push P application Fig. 2 is a similar view from the opposite side of force be g o natural under panic C011- 0! the door-showing the push operating element.

diti ns, the pr l k is c pab e f i-ns j Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the as- 30 m e q yand readily sembled lock looking toward the push operating The object of the invention is to improve the side constructionas well as the means and mode of Fig; 4 is a sectional-1pm,} View of the assembled operatlon of" door locks whereby they may. .be lock and operating member not only economically manufactured but will be 1 Fig. is a perspective View f the actuating 35 more eflicient in use, efiective in operation, .cacam member removed from the assembly pahle of zbeing easily and quickly operated with Fig 6 is a perspective View of a mounting application of force, having relativemember for the actuating cam and Teciprm 1y new operating parts and unlikely to :get out eatery 0 p 7 is a detailed perspective view of a re- 40 A further Qmect P minim is prowdg taining segment for operatively connecting the 100k capable i ag "ai g g operating cam with the mounting member.

{emergency 9 'pamc con Ions em y or Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the reciprocatory mg :greatly increased safety. I latch bolt element.

a antenna: tiiflf we 45 ing the latch bolt from antennae of the door W h the W a i fi t by application of the effort normally required uke paints. are m ca Sun a charge as to swing [the door, to open position or reference throu hout the several views.

A' further object of the invention is to :pro Whfle obvlously capable of embodiment m 50 v iorms tor illustrative purposes but withvide an improved keeper which, while securely holding the door latch in engaged relation, will u ntent to undu y 11 5901 0 applicafacilitate the idisengagementtheneof upon opextation 9f, the en 1 is herein illustrated as tion or the latch :bolt; 1 embodied i-na mortise type-lock having a recipro- 5 .Aafurther object of the mventionis to provide catpry .springlactuated latch bolt engageable tures of construction, the par-ts and combinations 1.

with a corresponding keeper mounted in the jamb of the door.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, I indicates a swinging door and 2 the exposed face of the lock mechanism seated within a mortise in the edge of the door and beyond which the reciprocatory lock bolt projects. Mounted on opposite sides of the door are escutcheons 4, with one of which is associated a D-shaped pull handle 5 and with the other of which is associated a push knob 6.

The lock structure comprises a rectangular skeleton frame I having therein a transverse slotted portion 8, which provides a bearing for the reciprocatory latch bolt 9 and also for the transversely sliding actuating members. The latch bolt 9 is also of skeleton form and is provided with a roller abutment I0. The latch bolt 9 is actuated forwardly into locking engagement with the corresponding keeper by a helical spring II positioned withinthe recess of the skeleton bolt and bearing at one end upon the transverse bearing member of the frame and at its opposite end upon the head of the bolt. The head 3 of the bolt 9 is bifurcated and carries within the bifurcation a roller I2.

The bearing portion 8 of the lock frame is provided with a circular recess, in which is mounted for axial movement a hollow slide I3 having in its walls aligned slots I4 which register with corresponding slots in the bearing portion 8 of the lock frame and receive the spaced walls of the skeleton latch bolt 9. The slots I4 in the circular slide I3 are sufficiently deep to permit limited to and fro axial sliding movement of the member I3 independently of and relative to the latch bolt 9. At the same time the latch bolt 9 is capable of transverse reciprocatory movement independent of and relative to' the slide I3. Mounted within the hollow slide member I3 is a plunger I5, also slotted at IS in registry with the slots I4 of the circular slide I3 to receive the sidewalls of the reciprocatory latch bolt 9. Intermediate the spaced slots I6 the plunger I5 is formed with an inclined cam face I'I engageable with the abutment roller ID of the latch bolt 9 telescopically mounted.

upon transverse movement of the plunger relative thereto. At its outer extremity the plunger I5 is screw-threaded to receive and carry the push knob 6, which, as shown in Fig. 4, has sliding bearing within its escutcheon 4. The plunger I5 is capable of limited inward movement under infiuence of pressure upon the push knob 6 independently of the slide member I3 in which it is However, its outward movement is limited by stop segments I8 secured to the face of the circular slide I3 and overhanging a peripheral rabbet or shoulder I9 upon the plunger I5. Such inward movement of the plunger I5 by pressure upon the push knob 5 exerts a retractive camming action of the cam surface I! upon the roller I0 of the latch bolt, thereby retracting the latter against the tension of its spring II out of locking engagement with its keeper. The reaction of the spring II upon release or pressure from the push knob 6, acting through the engagement of the roller I0 upon the cam face I'I, automatically returns the plunger I5 outwardly to its normal position when released.

Although the plunger I5 is movable by pressure upon the push knob 6 independently of the guide member I3, the latter is also moveable, but in doing so carries with it the plunger I5, due to the interlocking engagement of the stop segments I8 with the peripheral shoulders I9 of the plunger. The pull handle 5 is connected with the slide I3 within its escutcheon 4. Although not essential thereto, the slide member I3 has bearing within the escutcheon 4 at 20, as well as in the transverse portion 8 of the lock frame.

The D-shaped pull handle 5 may be attached to the actuator slide I3 in any suitable manner. However, for economy of manufacture and simplicity of assembly, the parts are shown having gibbed or undercut tongue and grooved sliding connection. A pulling effort upon the D handle 5 not only retracts the circular slide member I3 but carries with it the plunger I5, thereby drawing the cam face I! against the roller I0 to retract the latch bolt 9 against the yielding resistance of its tension spring II as before described. Thus, it will be seen that the push knob 6 may be operated to retract the latch bolt 9 wholly independently of any movement of the pull handle 5, but, to the contrary, operation of the pull handle 5 necessarily carries with it the push knob 6 and the connected plunger I5 and cam H.

To facilitate the engagement and disengagement of the latch bolt with its keeper, particularly upon heavy doors, the keeper 2I is not only provided with the customary cam guide surface 22 leading to the recess or socket, but is also provided adjacent to the cam guide and immediately within the socket with a roller 23, past which the roller I2 in the head of the latch bolt travels into locking relation. The roller 23 is so positioned within the keeper in relation to the extended position of the latch bolt roller I2 that the latter engages when at rest slightly beyond dead center relation with the roller 23. To provide for such adjustment and to compensate for wear or for shrinkage of the door or door jamb, the roller 23 is preferably, although not necessarily, mounted upon a bracket 24, adjustably supported within 1 the recess of the keeper 2| where it is soured by screws 25. To enable adjustment of the roller 23, one or more shims are removably positioned beneath the bracket 24. By removing such shims or inserting additional shims, the roller 23 may be adjusted inwardly or outwardly as required to afford the necessary degree of overhang of the latch bolt roller I2 beyond dead center relation.

The construction thus described is quite sturdy and durable and will withstand hard usage. While adapted to securely hold the door in its closed position, the bolt is easily and quickly disengaged by either push effort on one side of the door or pull effort applied at the opposite side of the door. that excessive pressure or pull influence cannot damage the lock or render it inoperative. At the same time the latch bolt may be released by minimum effort well within the capacity of children, women or aged persons. It provides a safety factor in event of emergency or panic and, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is of pleasing, conventional appearance.

The interengaging anti-friction rollers I2 and 23, carried by the latch bolt and keeper respectively, are duo-functional. The latch bolt roller I2, being advanced slightly beyond dead center relation with the roller 23, when in looking engagement, any pressure or pulling influence upon the door in an opening direction will only tend to increase the camming action of the rollers one on the other to prevent retraction and unlocking movement. To the contrary, after the latch bolt has been initially moved suifioiently to retract the latch bolt roller I2 past dead center relation with The construction is such, however,

, and construction herein disclosed comprise the the keeper roller 23, the same pressure or pulling effort upon the door in an opening direction will effect camming action between the respective rollers to retract the lock bolt-and release the door. It is therefore not necessary to operate the push-pull actuator means to its full scope or range of possible movement, nor to such -artent as to alone effect retraction of the latch bolt to release position. After the unlocking movement or retractive action of the latch bolt is merely initiated by the push-pull means sufliciently to retract the bolt roller in release direction into or slightly beyond dead center relation with the keeper roller, the same pressure or pull efifect beingexerted upon the actuator will be transmitted to these rollers and the inter-camming action of the roller 12 upon the roller 23 then supplements the influence of the cam 11 on the roller i0 and conjointly therewith effects the further retraction of the latch bolt into full release position. There is, therefore, in the present instance a direct cooperative relation between the pushpull operator mechanism and the interengaging latch bolt and keeper roller, which exert their influence simultaneously upon the latch bolt and mutually contribute to the retractive influence thereupon and the ease and rapidity of its operation.

Whereas with the ordinary mode of lock actuation by rotary knob, or oscillatory lever'operator, it isnecessary to exert two successive motions or applications of force in different directions, including first a rotary movement andthen a push or pull action subsequent thereto in addition to the rotary latch bolt operating movement in order to open the door, in the present instance only a single movement and application of force is necessary. The same push or pull effort which serves to retract the latch bolt initially, thereby bringing the interengagin'g rollers into release camming relation out of normal tightening cammin relation, when continued serves to further retract the latch bolt by the cooperation of the rollers and swing the door open. The engagement of the cam 11 with the roller l0 and the latch bolt roller 12 with the keeper roller 2! affords dual actuating means for the latch bolt, one of which acts initially in advance of the other, after which both operate simultaneously and conjointly in opposition to the latch bolt spring. Y Y

From the above description it be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated "as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved "or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While 'in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the inven tionis therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

-1. In a lock assembly wherein a reciprocatory latch bolt is mounted in a supporting frame for engaging relation with a keeper under influence of an actuating spring, the combination of actuating means for the bolt characterized by a pair of push-pull reciprocatory elements transversely disposed relative to the latch bolt, one of which is operable independently of the other, and an inter-coupling means therebetween whereby movement of said other member will actuate the first mentioned member in unison therewith, and interengaging cam surfaces on said first mentioned member and the latch bolt for retracting the latter against the tension of its spring by operation of either of said members.

2. In a lock assembly of the character described, a supporting frame, a reciprocatory latch bolt mounted therein for engagement with a keeper, an actuating spring therefor, a reciprocatory actuator for the bolt operable in a direction transversely thereto comprising two telescoplc members, a pull operating element secured to one of the telescopic actuator elements, a a.

push operator element secured to the other actuator element, one of said members having operative engagement with the latch bolt and being movable independently of the other to actuate the latch bolt against the influence of its spring, a

coupling between the telescopic actuator members whereby the movement of said other member will eflect movement of the first mentioned member to actuate the latch bolt against the influence of its spring.

'3. In a lock assembly of the character described, a supporting frame, a reciprocatory latch bolt mounted therein for engagement with a keeper, an actuating spring therefor, a reciproeatery actuating plunger mounted for move- 5,

ment transversely of the latch bolt, a pull operating element associated with the plunger at one side of the lock and a push operating element associated therewith at the opposite side of the lock, interengaging cam surfaces on the latch bolt and actuating plunger operative upon movement of the plunger under either push or pull influence to retract the latch bolt against resistance of the latch bolt actuating spring out of engagement with the keeper, the latch bolt being free for retractive movement against resistance of the actuating spring therefor independently of the actuating plunger.

4. A lock mechanism wherein a reciprocatory latch bolt is mounted in a supporting frame for engagement with a keeper under influence of an actuating spring characterized by a push-pull actuating means including two telescopically en'- ga'ged members extending in opposite directions beyond the lock mechanism, a pull handle on one such member and a push handle on the other such member, one of said members being operable independently of the other, an interconnection by which operation of such other member will eifect unison movement of both said members, and an operating connection between the independently operable member and the latch bolt for retracting the latch bolt against the tension of tits spring by operation of either of said members.

-5. The combination with a swinging door of a lock mechanism therefor, a spring actuated latch bolt, actuating means including a push operating element accessible :at one side the door and a pull operating element including a continuous loop handle accessible at the opposite side of the door, and a common actuating connection between'the push and pull elements and the latch bolt by which the latter is retracted against the resistance of the actuating spring by operation -of latch bolt is engageable with a keeper under innuence of its spring, characterized by a pushpull actuating means for the latch bolt operating on a line transversely of the line of movement of the latch bolt including a push operated element located at one side of the lock mechanism, a pull operated mechanism including a continuous loop handle located at the opposite side of the lock mechanism, operative connections between said push and pull operated elements and between one of said elements and the latch bolt, the construction and arrangement being such that the latch may be retracted against resistance of its actuating spring by operation of one of said elements independently of the other and also by the operation of said elements in unison, and may be retracted by force exerted on its free end independently or" the push-pull operating mechamsm.

7. In a lock mechanism of the character described, a supporting frame, a spring actuated latch bolt mounted therein for engagement with a keeper, an actuating spring therefor and dual operating means for retracting the latch bolt against resistance of its actuating spring, including a push-pull actuator mechanism for initiating the retractive movement thereof and interengaging cam surface-s carried by the latch keeper and the latch bolt relatively adjusted into release operative position by such initial retractive movement if the latch bilt and operative under continued push p-ull influence to further retract the latch bolt into full release position.

8. In a lock mechanism of the character described, a supporting frame, an adjustable latch bolt mounted therein for engagement with a keeper, and an actuating spring for said latch bolt, dual operating means for retracting the latch bolt against resistance of its actuating spring, including a pair of rollers carried by the latch bolt and keeper respectively and interengageable beyond dead center relation in locking relation, a push-pull actuator including cam means for initially retracting the latch bolt to retract the latch bolt roller past dead center relation with the keeper roller, whereby the rollers will exert camming action one on the other under continued push pull effort on the actuator means, the. construction and arrangement being such that the latch bolt is thereafter subject to the combined camming action of the rollers and the actuator cam means under the same push-pull influence.

9. In a lock mechanism. of the character described, a. supporting frame, an adjustable latch bolt mounted therein for engagement with a keeper, and an actuating spring for said latch bolt, dual operating means for retracting the latch bolt against resistance of its actuating spring, including a pair of rollers carried by the latch bolt and keeper respectively and interengageable beyond dead center relation in looking relation, and pressure operated means for initially retracting the latch past dead center relation of the latch bolt roller with the keeper roller whereby said rollers under continued pressure influence will further retract the latch bolt against resistance of its actuating spring by their interengaging camming action.

10. A look mechanism of the character described wherein an adjustable spring actuated latch bolt is mounted in a supporting structure for locking engagement with a keeper characterized by dual means for retracting the latch bolt out of engagement with its keeper against resistance of its actuating spring, one of said means including coacting cam surfaces alternately operative to urge the latch bolt into and out of locking relation, and the other of which is operative to initially change the relation of the said coacting cam surfaces from locking to releasing relation, said dual means being subject to a single common continuing application of operating force.

11. A look mechanism of the character described wherein an adjustable spring actuated latch bolt is mounted in a supporting structure for locking engagement with a keeper, char acterized by dual means for retracting the latching bolt out of engagement with its keeper, in-

eluding coacting interengaging cam surfaces upon the latch bolt and keeper respectively alternately operative to urge the latch bolt into and out of locking relation, and a push-pull retractive means for exerting initial retractive influence upon the latch bolt to change the coaction of said camming surfaces from locking to releasing relation, the construction and arrangement being such that a single operating force applied to the push-pull actuator means will cause initially single and subsequently unison operation of said dual latch bolt retractive means to release the bolt from its keeper.

12. In a lock mechanism a frame a reciprocatory skeleton latch bolt mounted therein, a circular guide recess in the frame intersected by the latch bolt, an actuating spring, a slotted sliding sleeve fitted within the circular guide recess for axial movement and transversely intersected by the skeleton latch bolt, a reciprocatory plunger mounted in the slide sleeve, a cam projection on the plunger, an abutment on the latch bolt with which the cam projection engages, a stop for limiting the relative movement of the sleeve and plunger in one direction but permitting relative movement of one independently of the other in the opposite direction, a push operating handle connected with the plunger, a pull operated handle connected with the sliding sleeve, the

construction and arrangement being such that operation of either the push or the pull onerated handle will effect engagement of the cam projection with the latch bolt abutment to retract the latch bolt against the tension of the actuating spring.

13. A lock mechanism wherein a spring actuated latch bolt is adjustably mounted in a supporting frame for engagement with a keeper under influence of its spring, characterized by push-pull actuating means therefor, including a reciprocatory sleeve mounted in the frame and intersected by the latch bolt, a reciprocatory plunger telescopically mounted within the sleeve and having operative engagement with the latch bolt, stop means limiting the relative movement of the plunger and sleeve in one direction bu. permitting independent adjustment thereof in the opposite direction.

14. A lock mechanism including a supporting frame, a movable spring actuated latch bolt therein, an actuating spring therefor, a push-pull operator mechanism for retracting the latch bolt against resistance of its actuating spring; a roller carried by the extremity of the latch bolt for en gagement with a keeper, a roller mounted upon the keeper past dead center relation with which the bolt roller is moved into engaging relation under influence of its spring and past which it is retracted by the push-pull operating mechanism.

15. A lock structure including a reciprocatory latch bolt, an actuating spring therefor, actuating means for retracting the latch bolt against resistance of its actuating spring, an anti-friction roller carried by the head of the bolt for engagement with a keeper, and a coacting roller carried by the keeper past which the latch bolt roller passes into and out of locking engagement and beyond dead center relation with which the latch bolt roller is advanced by the actuating spring when in locking relation.

16. A lock structure including a reciprocatory latch bolt, an actuating spring therefor, actuating means for retracting the latch bolt against resistance of its actuating spring, an anti-friction roller carried by the head of the bolt for engagement with a keeper, a coacting roller carried by the keeper past which the latch bolt roller passes into and out of locking engagement and beyond dead center relation with which the latch bolt roller is advanced by the actuating spring when in locking relation, and an adjustable mounting for the keeper roller by which the dead center relation of the rollers and thereby the point of locking and release coaction between the latch bolt roller and the keeper roller may be varied.

17. A lock mechanism wherein an adjustable spring actuated latch bolt is mounted in a supporting structure for locking engagement with a keeper, characterized by a push-pull operated cam means for retracting the latch bolt and interengaging cam means upon the latch bolt and keeper alternately operative to urge the latch bolt into increased locking or releasing relation, said 00- acting cam surfaces being changed from locking to releasing relation by independent initial operation of the push-pull actuator means, said respective means being thereafter simultaneously and conjointly effective under common influence to retract the latch bolt out of engagement with the keeper.

HARRY E. KNOLL.

Patent No 2,1 58 9 57 7 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

, May 16, 1959. HARRY E. KNOLL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, sec- ,ond column, line i l, for "soured" read secured; page 1;, first column, line 57, claim 7 for :"if the latch bilt" read of the latch bolt; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 11th day of July, A. D. 1959.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

